Chapter 104: Chapter 102: An Unexpected Encounter

Qin Yu scanned his surroundings.

In every corner of the Inner Mansion stood cultivators from the Cyan Mountain Sect.

What startled him the most was an indistinct yet pervasive sense of being observed, monitoring all the cultivators within the City Lord’s Inner Mansion.

So strong!

However, none of the surrounding cultivators seemed to notice it.

Whether it was due to his Spiritual Power or Divine Body, Qin Yu caught it. Thus, he concluded that an important figure resided in the lakeside pavilion!

But, it should... not be Xiyue Fairy.

Nevertheless, he knew that leaving now was impossible; forcefully trying to leave would only seem guilty and might draw more attention.

What to do now?!

Qin Yu lowered his gaze, pondering his strategy.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Yin Qinghe couldn’t help but ask.

Although she didn’t know what had happened, she guessed it was related to Xiyue Fairy.

A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes.

Though this rebellious disciple was bold before her now, Qin Yu couldn’t even meet her gaze when he first entered Danxin Herb Hall.

This cautious and careful personality shouldn’t have done anything to anger Xiyue Fairy, right?!

Could it be he couldn’t resist glancing at Xiyue Fairy?

"No, nothing." Qin Yu shook his head bitterly.

At this point, he could only stay hidden.

Fortunately, their position was relatively at the outside, almost in the corner, not easily noticed.

Now, he only hoped that the Fairy wouldn’t appear, or at least wouldn’t see him from afar.

...

Since it was about selecting talent, of course, there needed to be a test.

It was simply a basic test of Spiritual Power strength.

Knowing that Xiyue Fairy might appear and was potentially watching all this, the cultivators within the City Lord’s Mansion were eager to showcase themselves.

"Quhui City, Yang Rong, age seventy, Initial Stage of High Tier..."

"Red Cloud Domain, He Huasheng, age ninety-eight, Initial Stage of Refining!"

A flutter!...

In an instant, all gazes inevitably gathered onto the man who appeared to be in his prime.

After all, as a cultivator, though his bone age was ninety-eight, he seemed merely middle-aged.

He stood tall with extraordinary bearing, emitting an unusual aura from head to toe, rumored to be a renowned Alchemy Master.

However, he wasn’t a Yunlan Domain cultivator, so many hadn’t heard of him.

With his appearance, others became mere foils, even Elder Liu Zixiao of the Cyan Mountain Sect came out of the lakeside pavilion to greet him.

This left him slightly flattered, yet his face appeared even more spirited, glowing with vigor.

When it was Qin Yu’s group’s turn, only Yin Qinghe detected an Initial Stage of Middle Tier Spiritual Power; Qin Yu and Zhao Mengli both held back, only showing an Initial Stage.

Without even the qualification for roll call, naturally, they wouldn’t attract any attention.

The talent selection banquet soon began.

As expected, it was presided over by Elder Liu Zixiao; Qin Yu didn’t pay attention to her speech, instead carefully observing his surroundings.

Until the toasts ended, Xiyue Fairy hadn’t been seen, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Just at this moment...

"Xiyue Fairy has come out..."

"Indeed, the Yunlan Domain’s First Fairy’s title is not exaggerated, unparalleled beauty, unmatched!"

"To earn even a glance from this fair maiden, even at the cost of being scattered to the winds, it would be all worth it!"

Voices of discussion rose around him; Qin Yu instinctively followed everyone’s gaze.

On the side of the lakeside pavilion, as the door slightly opened, a young woman gracefully walked out.

The girl wore a pure white dress untouched by dust, lightly stepping through the ethereal mist, her eyes radiant like autumn waters, her skin fair as snow, with ink-like black hair flowing softly over her shoulders, gently swaying in the breeze, adding a celestial aura free from worldly blemishes.

Her figure was graceful, exuding indescribable elegance and poise with each step, as sunlight pierced thin mist, softly illuminating her, cloaking her in a faint halo, harmonizing with the green water and lotus, forming a captivating picture, so beautiful it left one breathless.

In the vestiges of mist, her matchlessly beautiful face appeared pristine, like a newly blossomed clear water lotus, untouched by dust, pure and noble.

How could this be a mortal woman, clearly a fairy from the heavens, descended to the mundane world!

The surrounding clamor seemed to freeze at this moment, with all gazes unconsciously converging upon her, whether male or female, all shaken by her transcendental beauty.

Standing there, she was the most beautiful scenery, making people forget the worries of the world, wishing only to immerse in this wonder, unwilling to leave.

If not witnessed personally, some might question, why the Cyan Mountain Sect Saintess, alone dominates Yunlan, with unmatched poise, claimed as the First Fairy?!

Now, as that peerless visage leapt into view, all things in the world paled in contrast, leaving only endless exclamations, endlessly echoing.

Truly deserving of the title!

Her beauty, beyond words, any attempt at crafted prose in her presence seemed feeble, akin to a glowworm by the moonlight.

With just a glance, Qin Yu hastily withdrew his gaze, not daring to linger.

He felt all this was unreal, if not for the data on the flame, he might have felt it had never happened.

She was so transcendent, untainted by worldly smoke, letting her acquire even a hint of dust, would be a great sin...

And what about him?!

He plucked this sacred Snow Lotus, placing it beneath him, letting her endure the harsh storm, withering away.

At this moment, even Qin Yu himself, felt he bore immense guilt, with a hundred deaths not enough for atonement.

...

Su Xiyue stood on the lakeside pavilion, like a fairy apart from the world, overseeing all beings with a transcendent demeanor.

Her temperament was cool and dignified, deterring anyone from approaching lightly, seemingly at odds with the mundane hustle and bustle.

Everything around, whether the flourishing scenes or the noisy chatter, stirred not a ripple in her heart’s lake.

Her eyes, calm like autumn waters, gliding lightly over the scene, capturing faces filled with wonder for her, yet leaving no trace in her heart.

This calm and indifference, seemed like her innate elegance, having long since viewed worldly matters lightly.

Suddenly.

Her gaze paused slightly.

Amidst the bustling crowd, there was a figure, unlike others, with their head bowed, in her view, it stood out slightly.

Even though it was at the outer corner, his face could not be seen, yet gave her an inexplicable familiarity, as if she had seen it somewhere before.

Where could it be?

Su Xiyue felt a tinge of doubt within.

Even among Immortal Sect disciples, few left a memory, how could there be someone evoking familiarity in such a Loose Cultivator City?!

However, her steps did not halt for this, as she reached the pavilion’s side entrance, suddenly she paused, turning around, her gaze once again fell on that familiar yet slightly unfamiliar figure.

Just at this moment, Qin Yu happened to lift his head.

Their gazes unintentionally intertwined, meeting unexpectedly.

"It’s him!"

Su Xiyue’s heart felt as if it had been struck, waves of ripples surged, that deeply buried memory instantly awakened, bringing undeniable pain and complex emotions.

That was the Junior Cultivator who took away her purity!

That memory, engraved like a brand, impossible to erase.